The Chairman of Accord Party in Osun State, Pastor Victor Akande, has insisted that he is still the leader of the state chapter of the party.
This is as Akande clarified that all allegations levelled against him by some disgruntled members of the party were false and lacked substance.
Akande made this clarification while chatting with DAILY POST on Tuesday in Osogbo.
DAILY POST had reported that some members of the party had suspended Akande as Accord Party chairman for alleged anti-party activities during an emergency meeting in Ile-Ife in March, 2024.
His suspension, which was ratified by six executive council members, was also backed by 13 local government chairmen of the party.
A communique released at the end of the meeting and signed by all in attendance accused Akande of taking decisions without carrying other members of the state executive along and acting dictatorially.
However, debunking the allegations on Tuesday, Akande said the suspension did not hold water as he is still recognised as the Osun State Accord Party chairman by the party’s national secretariat and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Osun State Office.
He said, “On the issue of anti-party activities nothing of such happened. It is just baseless lies.
On palliative, every party member got their palliatives and there is evidence to prove that. I am a pastor, very transparent and can never be involvedin diverting what does not belong to me.
“My purported suspension does not hold water because only the national secretariat has the power to do so. As it is, I still remain the recognised chairman both by the Accord Party national secretariat and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“Also, I never appointed a woman friend, Oluwakemi Awogbade, as my deputy. Three slots were left vacant during our congress to accommodate those groups that may join the party later. And when Action Alliance members led by Kemi Awogbade joined the party, the position of Deputy Chairman was given to them.”
He also revealed that he was never part of forgery of signature of the party secretary as earlier alleged, adding that he has an audio record to exonerate him.
Akande also maintained that no decision was taken without the knowledge of members of the state executive committee of the party.
Suspension: I am still Osun Accord Party chairman — Pastor Akande